Recording method, recorder, reproducing method, reproducer, and record medium

ABSTRACT

A recording method of the present invention includes a first process for recording audio data consecutively in a first recording area of a recording medium and a second process for recording audio data, which have a file format having the same file contents as audio data recorded in said first recording area, in a second recording area of said recording medium, can process audio data having a consecutive recording format and audio data having a file format, and thus makes it possible to use conveniently.

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates to a method and apparatus forrecording audio data in a recording medium such as an optical disc, areproducing method and apparatus therefor, and a recording medium.

BACKGROUND ART

[0002] A CD (compact Disc) player has been used very widely, a type ofwhich has been a stationary type, a portable type, and an on-vehicletype. It has been enjoyed widely to replay music by way of CD. As isgenerally known, audio PCM (Pulse Code Modulation) data are encoded inan error correcting way and recorded consecutively by record-modulating.In FIG. 1, a reference number 1 indicates CD. Data between a read-inarea 2 of an inner periphery side and an readout area 3 of an outerperiphery portion are encoded in an error correcting way. Audio PCM datawhich have been record-modulated are recorded consecutively as arecording track 5 by way of bits.

[0003] CD player performs modulating process to recording data whichhave been readout from CD, in accordance with record-modulation. Byperforming decoding process in an error correcting way, audio PCM dataare reproduced, reproduced audio PCM data are D/A converted, and thusoutput analog audio data are obtained.

[0004] On the other hand, in recent years, it has been possible to enjoyan audio playback by a personal computer. In this case, as shown in FIG.2, audio PCM data per 2 K bytes (2048 bytes) having a file formatdefined as a sector 7 are stored in a hard disc 6 of the personalcomputer. The audio PCM data are readout from the hard disc 6, changedto an analog signal, and then an output analog audio signal is obtained.In this case, as is generally known, each sector 7 includes a header HD,a data portion DA of 2 k bytes, and a parity Pr for error correction andmodification, and the audio PCM data of 2 K bytes are inserted in thedata portion DA.

[0005] At this point, in the following explanation, the audio PCM datahaving the file format stored in the hard disc are defined as WAV data,and a file thereof is defined as a WAV file herein.

[0006] In this way, during the present time, data (linear PCM data)having a consecutive recording format under the circumstances ofhandling a CD player as electric equipment for a consumer and the WAVfile under the circumstances of handling the personal computer existseparately while the same music data are processed.

[0007] At this point, for the personal computer, by installing afunction of the CD player, it comes to be possible to replay CD. Datahaving a CD format, however, are consecutive data of the audio PCM data.Thus, it is not appropriate to handle the audio PCM data by the personalcomputer.

[0008] For example, in the case in which the audio PCM data from CD arecopied by converting the audio PCM data from CD to coding data havingMP3 (MPEG1 Audio Layer III), ATRAC (Adaptive Transform Acoustic Coding),and the like, it is not possible to perform high speed process if theaudio PCM data are used without any process.

[0009] At this point, when a playback signal from CD is converted to thefile format having a sector structure and once copied to the hard disc,because of the file format, it comes to be possible for the playbacksignal to be converted to coded data as the aforementioned MP3 type,ATRAC type, and the like and copied at high speed. Further, for thepersonal computer, it is convenient in various points of view for theaudio data to be processed as the WAV file.

[0010] On the other hand, when the audio data stored in the hard disc ofthe personal computer are copied to CD-R (Compact Disc-Recordable),CD-RW (Compact Disc-Rewritable), and the like, the audio data having thefile format are recorded in those discs. Since the CD player cannotreproduce data having the sector structure, it comes to be impossible toreproduce the audio data from those optical discs.

[0011] In view of such a background, conventionally, in order to makereal a beneficial use of the personal computer and playback music undervarious circumstances by way of the CD player, even if the same musicdata are used, it is required to create a disc, in addition to a CD, forrecording the audio data having the file format. However, this is notconvenient, and further the number of discs comes to be large.

[0012] Though it can be considered that the playback signal from CD isconverted to have the file format having the sector structure and storedtherein by being copied to the hard disc, it is not preferable to storeall of audio data of the file format as amounts to 40 megabytes per apiece of music in the hard disc, if the capacity of the hard disc, whichis riddled with limitation, is considered.

[0013] In this way, conventionally, linear PCM data under thecircumstances of handling the CD player as electric equipment for theconsumer and the WAV file under the condition of operating the personalcomputer have existed separately while the same music data have beenprocessed, thus there have not been circumstances in which both types ofdata have been able to be processed in the same manner.

[0014] In view of the aforementioned points, the purpose of the presentinvention is to provide a recording method and apparatus, a reproducingmethod and apparatus, and a recording medium for enabling a user tohandle two types of audio data having the linear PCM data format and WAVformat in an easy and convenient manner.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

[0015] The present invention is a recording method which includes afirst process for recording audio data consecutively in a firstrecording area of a recording medium; and a second process for recordingaudio data, which have a file format having the same file contents asaudio data being recorded in the first recording area, in a secondrecording area of the recording medium.

[0016] Further the present invention is a recording medium whichincludes the first recording area for recording consecutive audio dataand the second recording area for recording the audio data having a fileformat of the same contents as the audio data recorded in the firstrecording area.

[0017] Further, the present invention is a recording method whichincludes the steps of: reading information on a table of contents from arecording medium; identifying whether or not the recording medium is arecording medium in which two kinds of audio data such as audio databeing recorded in the first recording area and audio data being recordedin a file format in the second recording area are recorded based onreadout information on the table of contents; identifying whether or notthe recording medium is a medium into which no data have yet beenwritten when it is identified that two kinds of audio data are recordedin the recording medium; and notifying whether or not the recordingmedium should be defined as a recording medium for recording two kindsof audio data when the recording medium is a medium into which no datahave yet been written.

[0018] Further, the present invention is a recording apparatus whichincludes a recording head for recording in a recording medium having afirst recording area in which audio data are recorded in a consecutiveway and a second recording area in which audio data having a file formatare recorded; a data generating unit for generating data having a fileformat based on input audio data; an encoder for performing an errorcorrecting procedure to the audio data being input and data being outputfrom the data generating unit; a modulation process unit for performinga modulating procedure to data being output from the encoder and forproviding recording data to the recording head; and a selecting unit fordeciding whether the audio data being input are supplied to the encoderor to the data generating unit based on a recording format beingdesignated.

[0019] Further, the present invention is a reproducing method whichincludes the steps of: reading out information on a table of contentsfrom a recording medium; identifying whether or not the recording mediumis a recording medium in which two kinds of audio data, such as audiodata recorded in the first recording area and audio data having a fileformat being recorded in a second recording area, are recorded based oninformation on the table of contents being readout; and starting aprocess of reproducing the recording medium when an indication of areproducing start and a selecting indication of a recording format aresupplied when it is identified that the recording medium is a recordingmedium in which two kinds of audio data are recorded.

[0020] Further, the present invention is a reproducing method whichincludes the steps of: reading out information on a table of contentsfrom a recording medium; identifying whether or not the recording mediumis a recording medium in which two kinds of audio data, as audio databeing recorded in the first recording area and audio data having a fileformat being recorded in the second recording area, are recorded basedon information on the table of contents being readout; and starting aprocess of reproducing when instructions, which selects a reproducingstart and a track position, are supplied when it is identified that therecording medium is a recording medium in which two kinds of audio dataare recorded.

[0021] Further, the present invention is a reproducing apparatus whichincludes: a reproducing head for reading out data from a recordingmedium; a demodulating unit for performing demodulating procedure todata being readout from the recording medium by the recording head; adecoder for performing decoding process, corresponding to an errorconnection procedure, to data being output from the demodulatingprocedure; a converting unit for converting data having the file formatto audio data when data being output from the decoder are data having afile format; and a selecting unit for deciding whether data being outputfrom the decoder are supplied to the conversion unit or not based oninformation on a table of contents readout from the recording medium.

[0022] Further, the present invention is a recording method whichincludes the steps of: reading out information for a table of contentsfrom a recording medium; identifying whether or not the recording mediumis a recording medium which has a first recording area of recording datahaving a first recording density and has a second recording area ofrecording data having a second recording density higher than the firstrecording density based on information of the table of contents beingreadout; and recording audio data consecutively in the first recordingarea and further audio data having a file format are recorded in thesecond recording area, if it is identified that the recording medium isa recording medium having the first and second recording areas.

[0023] Further, the present invention is a reproducing method whichincludes the steps of: reading out information on a table of contentsfrom a recording medium; identifying whether or not the recording mediumis a recording medium which has a first recording area of recording datahaving a first recording density and has a second recording area ofrecording data having a second recording density higher than the firstrecording density based on information of the table of contents beingreadout; and starting to reproduce the recording area when aninstruction of a reproducing start and an instruction of selecting arecording format are supplied, if it is identified that the recordingmedium is a recording medium having said first and second recordingareas.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0024]FIG. 1 is an explanatory view of a disc recording medium in whichaudio data having a conventional consecutive recording format arerecorded. FIG. 2 is an explanatory view of a disc recording medium inwhich data having the conventional file format are recorded. FIG. 3 is ablock diagram of an embodiment of a data recording apparatus of thepresent invention. FIG. 4 is a first embodiment of the recording mediumof the present invention. FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining the firstembodiment of a data recording method of the present invention. FIG. 6is a flowchart for explaining a second embodiment of a data recordingmethod of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a part of the flowchart forexplaining the second embodiment of a data recording method of thepresent invention. FIG. 7 is a continuation of the flowchart of FIG. 6.FIG. 8 is a continuation of the flowchart of FIG. 6. FIG. 9 is a blockdiagram of an embodiment of the data reproducing apparatus of thepresent invention. FIG. 10 is a flowchart for explaining the firstembodiment of the data reproducing method of the present invention. FIG.11 is a block diagram of another embodiment of the data reproducingapparatus of the present invention. FIG. 12 is a part of a flowchart forexplaining the first embodiment of the data reproducing method of thepresent invention. FIG. 13 is a continuation of the flowchart of FIG.12. FIG. 14 is a continuation of the flowchart of FIG. 12. FIG. 15illustrates the second embodiment of the recording medium of the presentinvention. FIG. 16 is a part of the flowchart for explaining the secondembodiment of the data reproducing method of the present invention. FIG.17 is a continuation of the flowchart of FIG. 16. FIG. 18 is acontinuation of the flowchart of FIG. 16.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[0025] In the following, the embodiments of the present invention areexplained with reference to drawings. For explaining the followingembodiments, to record audio data using a consecutive recording formatis to record audio PCM data using a CD format. Further, to record theaudio data using a file format is to record audio PCM data as a sectorstructure by a CD-ROM (Compact Disc Read Only Memory) encoder. At thispoint, for recording, there are recording by way of an authoring systemin a recording company, etc. and recording for personal use by a user.

[0026] [1] First Embodiment of A Data Recording Apparatus

[0027]FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the first embodiment of a datarecording apparatus of the present invention. At this point, though thedata recording apparatus of this FIG. 1 handles 2 right-and-left channelaudio signals, for explaining easily, 1 system is used in FIG. 3.

[0028] In FIG. 3, an analog audio signal is supplied to a low passfilter 13 after impedance conversion is performed while it is convertedto be a suitable level by being supplied to a line amplifier 12 throughan input terminal 11. A dither signal from a dither generating circuit14 is also supplied to the low pass filter 13. This dither signal isadded so as to suppress high-order harmonics by a quantization noise atthe time that an input signal is small.

[0029] An audio signal to which bandwidth limitation is performed by thelow pass filter 13 is supplied to a sample and hold circuit 15, and itis sample-held at 44.1 kHz. The output of this sample and hold circuit15 is supplied to an A/D converter 16, and then converted to audio PCMdata of 16 bits/sample. These audio PCM data are supplied to a linearPCM/WA selector 18 by way of an input selector 17.

[0030] In the case in which the input signal is already defined as audioPCM data of 16 bit/sample, in which a sampling frequency is 44.1 Hz, theaudio PCM data thereof are supplied to the input selector 17 by way of adigital signal input terminal 19.

[0031] A system controller 20 supplies an input select signal, whichindicates that which data should be output from the input selector 17,to the input selector 17. The system controller 20 produces an inputsignal in accordance with a selecting input process through a key inputunit 21 by a user.

[0032] A linear PCM/WAV selector 18 determines, in accordance with arecording form select signal from the system controller 20, any one ofoutput terminals of 2 systems an audio PCM signal from the inputselector 17 is output to.

[0033] If the select signal from the system controller 20 is a signalwhich indicates recording of the audio data having a sequentialrecording form, the linear PCM/WAV selector 18 supplies the audio PCMdata to an ECC encoder 23 in a direct manner. On the other hand, if theselect signal from the system controller 20 indicates recording of audiodata using a file format, the selector 18 supplies them to a CD-ROMencoder 22.

[0034] This CD-ROM encoder 22 generates data having a sector structurein which sync (synchronizing signal), a header and a parity are givenper 2K bytes (2048 bytes) of its input audio PCM data. The CD-ROMencoder 22 supplies the audio data having the generated sector structureto the ECC encoder 23.

[0035] In the ECC encoder 23, an error correcting encode process, whichuses CIRC (Cross Interleave Reed-Solomon Code) to input data from theselector 18 or the encoder 23, is performed. The ECC encoder 23 suppliesdata, to which the error correcting encode process is performed, to arecord modulating circuit 24.

[0036] In the record modulating circuit 24, record modulation isperformed to data, to which the error correcting encode process isperformed, by an EFM (Eight-to-Fourteen Modulation) method, and then themodulated data thereof are supplied to a recording head 26 by way of arecording amplifier 25. The recording head 26 records audio data on anoptical disc 29 by forming pits on the optical disc 29. In such a caseas a recording apparatus for a consumer, not a recording apparatus forthe authoring system, the optical disc 29 having the type of changingthe reflection factor of light by a light beam reflected from arecordable optical disc such as the recording head 26 is used.

[0037] The optical disc 29 is driven and rotated by a spindle motor 27.The spindle motor 27 is driven and controlled in such a way that theoptical disc 29 rotates at a fixed speed by a servo-control of aconstant linear speed. A speed control circuit 28 produces a speed servosignal based on an audio PCM signal from the linear PCM/WAV selector 18,and supplies it to the spindle motor 27.

[0038] This speed control circuit 28 controls to change a rotating speedof the optical disc 29 for a consecutive recording format and a filerecording format in accordance with an instruction from the systemcontroller 20.

[0039] That is to say, in the case of the consecutive recording format,audio PCM data having 2352 bytes are recorded on the optical disc 29 byevery {fraction (1/75)} second. On the contrary, for the file format,only audio PCM data having 2048 bytes as one sector are recorded on theoptical disc 29. Thus, in the case of recording music data in real time,what is called, the same speed (onefold speed) recording, it is requiredthat a linear speed Vf at the time of recording using the file format befaster than a linear speed Vc (1.2 m/second) for the consecutiverecords. In this case, the following is required:

Vf=Vc((2048/2352)Vc((147/128)

[0040] The speed control circuit 28 controls, by way of the instructionfrom the system controller 20, the spindle motor 27 in order for thelinear speed of the optical disc 29 to attain the aforementioned Vc forthe consecutive records and controls the spindle motor 27 in order forthe linear speed of the optical disc 29 to attain the aforementioned Vffor the file record.

[0041] In the aforementioned structured data recording apparatus, whenaudio data are recorded in the consecutive recording format, by thespeed control circuit 28 under control of the system controller 20, theoptical disc 29 is speed-controlled in rotating in order for the linearspeed Vc to become a constant at the speed of 1.2 m/second.

[0042] The audio PCM data from the linear PCM/WAV selector 18 issupplied to the ECC encoder 23 as it is by receiving a selective signalby the system controller 20. In the ECC encoder 23, an encodingprocedure for correcting an error is performed to the audio PCM datafrom the selector 18, and the encode-processed data are supplied to therecord modulating circuit 24, and then the aforementioned recordmodulating procedure is executed. The output data of the recordmodulating circuit 24 are supplied to the recording head 26 by way ofthe recording amplifier 25 and then recorded in the optical disc 29.

[0043] When the audio PCM data are recorded in the file format, by thespeed control circuit 28 under control of the system controller 20, therotating speed of the optical disc 29, as described in the foregoingdescription, is controlled in order for the linear speed Vf to become aconstant at speed slightly higher than the linear speed Vc, and therotating speed of the disc is changed.

[0044] By being selectively controlled by the system controller 20, theaudio PCM data from the linear PCM/WAV selector 18 are supplied to theCD-ROM encoder 22, converted to sector structured data each having 2 Kbytes, and then supplied to the ECC encoder 23. In the ECC encoder 23,an error correction encoding procedure is executed to the sectorstructured data from the CD-ROM encoder 22. The encoded data aresupplied to the record modulating circuit 24, and then theaforementioned record modulating procedure is executed. The output datafrom the record modulating circuit 24 are supplied to the recording head26 by way of the recording amplifier 25, and then recorded in theoptical disc 29.

[0045] In addition, in the case of the authoring system, an optical diskwhich has already been recorded and created by the recording deviceshown in FIG. 3 is defined as a master disc, and thus the disc havingthe same pit patterns is created.

[0046] Using the data recording apparatus structured in this way, arecording method of the embodiment of the present invention is executed.

[0047] [2] First Embodiment of the Recording Medium and the RecordingMethod

[0048] The first embodiment of the recording method of the presentinvention is the optical disc having the same structure as theconventional CD and CD-ROM, and the recording density thereof is thesame as the conventional CD. Further, in the first embodiment of therecording method, the same music data are recorded in one optical discusing two kinds of recording forms of the consecutive recording formatand the file format.

[0049] [2-1] Recording Medium

[0050]FIG. 4 is a diagram of an optical disc 30 in which the audio dataare recorded by the first embodiment of the recording method of thepresent invention.

[0051] On the side of an inner periphery of this optical disc 30, aconsecutive format recording area 34 consisting of a read-in area 31, aread-out area 32, and a data area 33 is formed. On the side of an outerperiphery of this optical disc 30, a file format recording area 38consisting of a read-in area 35, a read-out area 36, and a data area 37is formed.

[0052] In the data area 33 of the consecutive format recording area 34,in the same way as the conventional CD, the audio PCM data are encodedin an error correcting manner, and record-modulated data are recorded ina consecutive manner. Thus, the audio data of this recording area 34 arecapable of being reproduced by the so-called CD player.

[0053] In the data area 37 of the file format recording area 38, thesame data as the audio PCM data recorded in the consecutive formatrecording area 34 are structured to have the sector by the CD-ROMencoder, encoded in an error correcting manner, recorded and modulated,and then recorded. Thus, the audio data of the file format recordingarea 38 are capable of being reproduced by a device, such as a personalcomputer, which is capable of reading data having the CD-ROM formathaving the file format.

[0054] In this case, the consecutive format recording area 34 isarbitrary in size. Thus, the file format recording area 38 is arbitraryin position and size as well on the disc. Further, the recording densityof the consecutive format recording area 34 and the recording density ofthe file format recording area 38 are the same.

[0055] In the read-in area 31, information on a table of contents ofthis optical disc 30, namely, information on TOC (Table of Contents), isrecorded. It may be possible to record a part of information on TOC inthe read-in area 35.

[0056] TOC information includes identifier information indicating thatthis disc 30 records the same audio data in two kinds of recordingformats, information for identifying the position of the recording area34 on the inner periphery side, information for identifying the positionof the recording area 38 on the outer periphery side, information forindicating the recording format of the audio data recorded in therecording area 34 on the inner periphery side, information forindicating the recording format of the audio data recorded in therecording area 38 on the outer periphery side, and so forth. Informationfor identifying the positions of these recording areas 34 and 38 isinformation for indicating a start address and an end address ofrespective areas, for example.

[0057] In this example, information for indicating the recording formatof the audio data recorded in the recording area 34 on the innerperiphery side is information for indicating that the audio PCM data arerecorded in a consecutive recording manner. In addition, information forindicating the recording format of the audio data recorded in therecording area 38 on the outer periphery side is information forindicating that the audio PCM data having the file format are recorded.

[0058] TOC information also includes information for identifyingrespective track positions of the data area 33 of the recording area 34on the inner periphery side and information for identifying respectivetrack positions of the data area 37 of the recording area 38 on theouter periphery side.

[0059] When the audio PCM data are recorded in the optical disc 30 onlyin a consecutive recording format in the same way as in the conventionalCD, identifier information, which indicates that only the audio PCM dataare recorded in the disc 30 instead of the identifier information whichindicates that the disc 30 records the same audio PCM data using twokinds of recording formats, is recorded as TOC information. In the sameway, when only audio data having the file format with the CD-ROM formatare recorded in the disc 30, information for indicating the fact isrecorded.

[0060] when it is decided beforehand that the audio PCM data having theconsecutive recording format are to be recorded without fail in therecording area 34 of the inner periphery, information for indicatingthis case is not necessarily recorded in the recording area 34 on theinner periphery side. In the same way, when it is decided beforehandthat the audio PCM data having the file format are to be recordedwithout fail in the recording area 38 on the outer periphery side,information for indicating that the audio PCM data are recorded is notnecessarily recorded in the recording area 38 on the outer peripheryside . At this point, it is required that the identification data forindicating that the audio PCM data are recorded in two kinds ofrecording formats be written as TOC information in the disc.

[0061] In accordance with the optical disc 30 of this FIG. 4, the samemusic data are recorded in the recording area 38 in the file format,while the same data are recorded in the recording area 34 in the sameway as the CD format. Thus, it comes to be possible that the userobtains the music data having the user's favorite recording format fromthe disc 30.

[0062] At this point, it is possible to record the audio data having thefile format in the recording area 34 on the inner periphery side andrecord the audio data having the consecutive recording format in therecording area 38 on the outer periphery side.

[0063] It is also possible to define the sizes and the positions of therecording area 34 and the recording area 38 in advance. In such a case,information for identifying the recording area 34 and the recording area38 is not required, but it is needed that information for identifyingthe recording format of the audio data recorded in the recording area 34and the recording area 38 is recorded. In such a case, when audio datahaving two kinds of recording formats are recorded in the recording area34 and the recording area 38, the identification data having at leastone kind of recording format are recorded in any one of the recordingareas. For example, if identifier information for indicating that datahaving the file format are recorded in the record area 38 is recorded,it is understood that audio data having the consecutive recording formatare recorded in the remaining recording area 34.

[0064] [2-2] Data Recording Method

[0065]FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining the process flow when theaudio data are recorded using the data recording apparatus of FIG. 3 bya data recording method of the first embodiment. This is an example ofthe authoring system. It is assumed that the music data to be recordedare already converted into PCM data. Thus, the input selector 17 isswitched to the state in which the audio PCM data from the inputterminal 19 are selected by the system controller 20.

[0066] In order to perform recording in a consecutive record format, thelinear PCM/WAV selector 18 is switched to the state in which the audioPCM data are output to the ECC encoder 23. Then, the PCM data on themusic data to be recorded are encoded in an error correcting way by theECC encoder 23 (step S1).

[0067] Next, in the record modulating circuit 24, the audio data arerecorded and modulated (step S2), supplied to the recording head 26, andthen recorded in the optical disc 29 having the consecutive recordformat (step S3). At this point, as shown in FIG. 4, the data are formedand recorded in the recording area 34 on the inner periphery side of theoptical disc 29.

[0068] When recording of the audio data having the consecutive recordingformat on the inner periphery side of the optical disc 29 is ended (stepS4), as described before, the position of the recording area 34 andinformation on the contents of the audio data recorded in the recordingarea 34 are recorded in the read-in area 31 as TOC information (stepS5).

[0069] Next, prior to recording the audio data having the file format,the linear PCM/WAV selector 18 is switched to the state in which the PCMdata are output to the CD-ROM encoder 22, further the state ofcontrolling the rotating speed of the optical disc 29 is switched, bythe speed control circuit 28, to the state in which the aforementionedlinear speed Vf is controlled to be a constant from the state that thelinear speed Vc is controlled to be a constant, and then the rotatingspeed is changed (step S6).

[0070] The same audio PCM data as is recorded in the consecutiverecording format are switched to the sector structured data by theCD-ROM encoder 22 (step S7), and then encoded in an error correcting wayby the ECC encoder 23 (step S8). Next, in the record modulating circuit24, the data are recorded and modulated (step S9), supplied to therecording head 26, and then recorded to the optical disc 29 (step S10).At this point, as shown in FIG. 4, the data are formed and recorded inthe recording area 38 on the outer periphery side of the optical disc29.

[0071] When recording of the audio data having the file format is ended(step Sl1), as described before, the position of the recording area 38and information on the contents of the audio data recorded in therecording area 38 are recorded in the read-in area 31 and/or the read-inarea 35 as TOC information (step S12).

[0072] As described before, as shown in FIG. 4, there are not only thecase in which the same music data having two kinds of recording formatsare recorded in one optical disc but also the case in which the audiodata having the file format are recorded in all areas of one disc. Inthis case, too, according to the first embodiment, the music data arerecorded with the rotating speed of the optical disc being defined to behigher than in the case of the consecutive record.

[0073] Further, not only the same speed recording in real time ispossible but also it is possible to record the same recording pattern atN(N>1)-times faster speeds. In this case, the speed of the clock at thetime of recording operation is made N times, while the optical disc 29is rotated at the N times linear speeds of Vc or Vf.

[0074] [3] Second Embodiment of the Recording method

[0075] The above-mentioned recording method of the first embodiment isthe case of a method for applying to the authoring system. The secondembodiment is the case in which the data recording apparatus of FIG. 3is used as a recording apparatus for a consumer. In the first case ofthe second embodiment of the recording method, the audio data arerecorded in the recordable optical disc such as CD-R and CD-RW in therecording format selected by a user from the two kinds of the abovementioned recording formats.

[0076] In the case of this embodiment, the audio data are recorded inthe disc by two kinds of recording methods in the same form as in FIG.4. However, it is not limited to the case of the same music data butthere is a case in which different music data are recorded. Further, itis also possible to record the audio data in all area of one disc aswere—recorded in either of the recording formats.

[0077]FIGS. 6, 7, and 8 are flowcharts for explaining recording methodsof this case.

[0078] When it is detected that the optical disc is loaded (step S21),TOC information is read-in, and then, based on the read-in information,it is judged whether or not the optical disc is a disc on which adecision has already been made to, record in two kinds of recordingformats (step S22). When it is identified that the optical disc is notthe disc on which a decision was made not to record in two kinds ofrecording formats based on the TOC information, it is judged whether ornot the disc has already been recorded (step S23). If the disc has notbeen recorded, an inquiry is made to the user by a message shown on adisplay or an output by way of a voice, asking whether or not the discis defined as one that records in two kinds of recording formats (stepS24). To judge whether or not the disc has been recorded is ascertainedby judging that TOC information cannot be readout from the read-in area31, for example, in other words, by judging that nothing has beenrecorded therein.

[0079] Next, it is judged whether or not the disc should be recordedusing two kinds of recording formats by identifying an instructed inputby the user with respect to the inquiry at this step S24 (step S25). Ifthe disc is to be recorded using two kinds of recording formats, theinstructions of where to position the recording area 38 and recordingarea 34 of FIG. 4 is received, and then an identifier indicating thatthe disc should be recorded using two kinds of recording formats andinformation on the range and position of the recording areas 34 and 38are written in as TOC information (step S26).

[0080] Designation of the recording areas may be carried out by, forexample, a method of choosing from among several kinds of settingvalues, which in advance define the ratio between the sizes of theaforementioned 2 recording areas by the recording apparatus, or by amethod of respectively defining the sizes of the recording areas by theuser himself. According to this embodiment, however, the recording areahaving the consecutive recording format is set on the inner peripheryside of the optical disc and the recording area having the file formatis set on the outer periphery side thereof.

[0081] In addition, in stead of the recording area being designated bythe user, it is possible to allocate automatically the recording areas34 and 38 to predetermined sizes.

[0082] The procedure, when it is identified that the disc has not beenrecorded at step S23, and when it is identified, even if the disc hasnot been recorded, that the user has designated that the disc should notbe recorded in two kinds of recording formats at step S25, will bedescribed later on.

[0083] As for the disc which is judged as one to perform recording intwo kinds of recording formats or is selected as one to performrecording in two kinds of recording formats and of which the recordingarea is designated, an instruction to start recording needs waiting for(step S27). When there is an instruction to start recording, therecording format that is designated by the user is identified (stepS28).

[0084] When recording is performed in two kinds of recording formats,the recording apparatus cannot execute recording by only the instructionto start recording, but is required to designate a recording format.When the user instructs the start of recording without designating therecording format, the user is made to realize by a message and beeptones that the recording format requires designating. In this case, adisplay (not shown in FIG. 3) of the recording device indicates that thedisc performs recording in two kinds of recording formats.

[0085] At step S28, when it is determined that the consecutive recordingformat is designated as a recording format, a recording head is moved tothe consecutive recording area which is designated by TOC information orto the consecutive recording area which is designated at step S26 andfurther, an empty area is detected and recording is executed (step S29).When the recording is ended at step S29 (step S30), information on arecorded track is written in the read-in area as TOC information (stepS31), and then the recording process terminates.

[0086] On the other hand, at step S28, when it is judged that the fileformat is designated as the recording format, the recording head ismoved to the file format recording area which is designated by TOCinformation or to the file format recording area which is designated atstep S26, and further an empty area is detected and recorded (step S32).When the recording is ended (step S33), information on the recordedtrack is written as TOC information (step S34), and then the recordingprocess terminates.

[0087] Next, when it is determined by reading out TOC information fromthe read-in area, for example, that the disc has already been recorded,since the disc is one in which audio data have already been recorded ineither of the recording formats, the recording format of the audio dataalready recorded is recognized from TOC information (step S41 of FIG.7). When there is an instruction to start recording after the start ofrecording has been awaited (step S42), recording of the audio data isexecuted in the empty area in the recording format which is recognizedat step S41 (step S43). When the recording the data is ended (step S44),information on the recorded track is written in the read-in area 31 or35 as TOC information (step S45), and then the recording processterminates.

[0088] At this point, since the disc performs recording only in one ofthe two kinds of recording formats, unlike the disc which performsrecording in the aforementioned two kinds of recording formats,designation by the user of a recording format is not required. When theremaining different recording format is designated by the user, the beeptones and the like are emitted. Information on the disc in which of therecording formats is supplied on the display of the recording apparatus,and then reported to the user.

[0089] Next, even if the disc has not been recorded, when it is judgedthat the user designated that the disc should not be recorded using twokinds of recording formats at step S25, subsequent to the flowchart ofFIG. 8, an instruction to start recording is awaited (step S51). Thisinstruction of the start of recording, entails the need for designatingthe recording format. When the user instructs the start of recordingwithout designating the recording format, the user is informed by amessage and beep tones that the designation of the recording format isneeded. In this case, on the display of the recording apparatus is shownan indication of an unrecorded disc in which no recording format is set.

[0090] When there is an instruction to start recording together with aninstruction of the designation of the recording format, the recordingformat designated by the user is judged (step S52). At step S52, when itis judged that the consecutive recording format is designated as therecording format, recording is performed by using the consecutiverecording format (step S53). When the recording is ended at step S53(step S54), information on the recorded track is written in the read-inareas 31 and 35 as TOC information (step S55), and then the recordingprocess terminates.

[0091] On the other hand, at step S28, when it is judged that the fileformat is designated as the recording format, recording is performed byusing the file format (step S56). When the recording is ended at stepS56 (step S57), information on the recorded track is written in theread-in areas 31 and 35 as TOC information (step S58), and then therecording process terminates.

[0092] [4] Third Embodiment of the Recording Method

[0093] The third embodiment is the case of the recording apparatus forthe consumer, as shown in the aforementioned FIG. 4, and an example ofthe case in which the same music data are recorded in different areas ofone disc using two kinds of recording methods.

[0094] [4-1] Data Recording Apparatus

[0095] An example of the data recording apparatus of this thirdembodiment is shown in FIG. 9. For the data recording apparatus of thisexample, the basic elements of the hardware components are the same asthe data recording apparatus of FIG. 3. The point different therefrom isthat a buffer memory 40 for temporarily storing the output from theinput selector 17 is supplied.

[0096] The data recording apparatus in the case of the third embodimentcan record the data by the recording method of the aforementioned secondembodiment, and further has the function of recording the same musicdata in the consecutive recording format and the file format. The keyinput unit 21 includes a 2 kinds-simultaneous-recording key forinitiating the function. This function is valid for the case in whichthe disc is capable of recording two kinds of recording formats. Thus,for the third embodiment, the procedures of steps from step S21 to stepS26 of the aforementioned second embodiment are performed.

[0097] [4-2] Data Recording Method

[0098] In the state in which the disc capable of recording in two kindsof recording formats is loaded, if the 2 kinds-simultaneous-recordingkey is operated, as shown in the flowchart of FIG. 10, the function forrecording the same music data in the consecutive record format and thefile format is executed.

[0099] That is to say, if the 2 kinds-simultaneous-recording key isoperated (step S61), audio data are sequentially recorded in theconsecutive record format in an empty area of the consecutive formatrecording area recognized from TOC information. At this time, the audioPCM data are stored in the buffer memory 40 simultaneously (step S62).When the recording is ended at step S61 (step S63), information on therecorded track is written in the read-in area 31 or 35 as TOCinformation (step S64).

[0100] Next, the recording head 26 is moved to the empty area of therecording area with the file format recognized from TOC information(step S65), and then the audio PCM data recorded in the consecutiverecord format as have been accumulated in the buffer memory 40, arereadout (step S66).

[0101] By way of the CD-ROM encoder 22, the ECC encoder 23, the recordmodulating circuit 24, and the recording amplifier 25, the audio PCMdata are supplied to the recording head 26 and then the same music dataare recorded in the empty area of the file format recording area in thefile format (step S67). When the recording is ended at step S67 (stepS68), information on the recorded track is written in the read-in area31 or 35 as TOC information (step S69), and then the process ofrecording 2 kinds simultaneously is terminated.

[0102] In accordance with the third embodiment, the user can record themusic data on one disc as the consecutive recording data having a CDformat and data having the file format only by operating the 2kinds-simultaneous-recording key. Thus, this is quite convenient.

[0103] [5] Embodiment of a Data Reproducing Apparatus

[0104]FIG. 11 is a block diagram of a data reproducing apparatus of thepresent embodiment. The data reproducing apparatus is a reproducingapparatus of a recording medium recorded by the data recording apparatusof FIG. 3 or 9, and corresponds to 2 channel stereo signals. Therefore,it is considered that the data record reproducing apparatus isstructured by a combination of the apparatus of FIG. 3 and the apparatusof FIG. 11 or a combination of the apparatus of FIG. 9 and the apparatusof FIG. 11.

[0105] An optical disc 50 is a disc in which audio data are recorded intwo kinds of recording formats by the aforementioned recording method.As indicated in the foregoing description, for the optical disc 50, asshown in FIG. 4, there are a type, in which a recording area having theconsecutive recording format as the recording area and a recording areahaving the file format coexist, and another type, in which the data arerecorded in any one of the consecutive recording format and the fileformat.

[0106] The optical disc 50 is rotated and driven by a spindle motor 51at the same speed as the conventional CD player. The data readout bythis optical disc 50 are supplied to a demodulating circuit 54 by way ofan RF circuit 53, and then a demodulating process, which corresponds tomodulation performed to the readout data, is executed. A speed controlcircuit 55 controls the speed of the spindle motor 51 in order for thelinear speed Vc to become a constant when the standard reproducing speedhas already been attained at an onefold speed, based on the datademodulated by this demodulating circuit 54.

[0107] According to this embodiment, the optical disc 50 is capable ofreproducing the readout data at a tenfold faster speed which is 10 timesfaster than the aforementioned onefold speed or at twentyfold fasterspeeds which are 20 times faster than the aforementioned onefold speedby rotating the spindle motor 51. Thus, the speed control circuit 55 isstructured to be controlled by a system controller 60.

[0108] Data demodulated by the demodulating circuit 54 are supplied toan ECC decoder 56. TOC information oN the data demodulated by thedemodulating circuit 54 is supplied to the system controller 60, andthen used for several kinds of control.

[0109] In the ECC decoder 56, an error correcting procedure using CIRCis executed, and the error corrected audio PCM data or the audio datahaving the sector structure are supplied to a linear PCM/WAV selector57. The audio data, of which errors could not have been corrected, aresupplied to the selector 57 by adding an error flag for indicating thissituation.

[0110] The system controller 60, as explained hereinafter, generates aselecting signal for selecting and controlling the selector 57 when thereproduced data are the consecutive recording data and the data have thefile format, based on TOC information read-in from the optical disc 50and an input of an selection instruction from a key input part 68.

[0111] When the selector 57 receives a selecting signal for reproducingthe data of the consecutive recording format from the system controller60, the data from the ECC decoder 56 are directly supplied as they areto an error interpolating circuit 59. When the selecting signal forreproducing the data having the file format from the system controller60 is received, the data from the ECC decoder 56 are supplied to aCD-ROM decoder 58.

[0112] The CD-ROM decoder 58 analyzes the data having the sectorstructure and then changes them to the audio PCM data. The audio PCMdata are supplied to the error interpolating circuit 59.

[0113] The error interpolating circuit 59 checks an error flag which isattached to the input data, and the error interpolating process usingthe before and behind data, for example, is executed to the audio dataof the error to which the error correction is not performed. The outputdata of the error interpolating circuit 59 are supplied to a dataoutputting speed control circuit 61.

[0114] The data outputting speed control circuit 61 includes a buffermemory, the input data are buffered to a buffer memory, and then thedata are output at a necessary speed (1.4112 Mbps).

[0115] In this case, in the case of reproducing the recorded audio datahaving the consecutive recording format, in the same way as theconventional CD player, the data can be output without controlling theoutput speed. In the case of reproducing the recorded audio data havingthe file format, as described before, since the data are recorded byrotating the disc at the linear speed Vf which is higher than the linearspeed Vc, the data can be output without controlling the outputtingspeed in the same way as the conventional CD player, except that a paththrough the CD-ROM decoder 58 is used.

[0116] However, in this embodiment, even if the data having any kind ofrecording format are reproduced, by controlling the speed controlcircuit 55 by the system controller 60, the optical disc 50 is rotatedat high speeds such as 10 times faster and 20 times faster as describedbefore, the data are buffered in a memory in the data outputting speedcontrol circuit 61, and thus the data can be output at a necessary(1.4112 Mbps) speed.

[0117] The digital data from the data outputting speed control circuit61 are output to the outside from a digital outputting circuit 62, andfurther supplied to a D/A converter 63, and then converted to analogaudio signals. The converted analog audio signals are output to theoutside from an analog output terminal 67 by way of an aperture circuit64, a low pass filter 65, and the line amplifier 66.

[0118] The reproducing operations of the data reproducing apparatus ofthis embodiment are explained with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS.12, 13, and 14.

[0119] In the data reproducing apparatus of this embodiment, when it isdetected that the optical disc is loaded (step S71), TOC informationthereof is read-in (step S72), and then it is checked to determine thetype of disc.

[0120] By checking TOC information at step S72, it is judged whether ornot the loaded optical disc is one in which the audio data are recordedcoexistently in two kinds of recording formats (step S73). When it isfound that the disc is not one in which the audio data are coexistentlyrecorded in two kinds of recording formats at step S73, the recordingformat of the recorded data of the disc is determined from the TOCinformation (step S74).

[0121] At step S74, when it is determined that the recording format isthe consecutive recording format, the linear PCM/WAV selector 57 of thereproducing apparatus of FIG. 11 is set as the condition for providingthe PCM data to the error interpolating circuit 59 not via the CD-ROMdecoder 58, and then the audio PCM data corresponding to the consecutiverecording formats are reproduced (step S75). When a halt key is operatedand it is detected that the end of reproducing is set, the operation ofreproducing the audio PCM data corresponding to the consecutiverecording format terminates (step S76).

[0122] At step S74, when it is detected that the recording format is thefile format, the linear PCM/WAV selector 57 of the reproducing apparatusof FIG. 11 is changed to the state of providing the PCM data to theCD-ROM decoder 58, and then it is performed to reproduce the audio PCMdata corresponding to the file format (step S77). When the halt key isoperated and it is detected that the end of reproducing is set, theoperation of reproducing terminates (step S78).

[0123] At step S73, when it is detected that the audio data having twokinds of recording formats exist together and are recorded in the disc,the operation of reproducing is awaited (step S79). If the operation ofreproducing is performed, it is performed to decide whether or not theindication of selecting a reproducing position (reproducing trackposition) or a recording format corresponds to the indication ofreproducing (step S80). When it is identified that the indication ofselecting is made correctly, it is performed to judge whether theinstruction of selecting is the instruction of selecting the recordingformat or the instruction of selecting the track position (step S81).

[0124] When it is identified that the instruction of selecting therecording format is made correctly at step S81, it is performed to judgewhether the file format is selected or not (step S91 of FIG. 13). If thefile format is indicated, based on TOC information, a pick up 52 ismoved to the file format recording area, the data are readout from thefile format recording area, decoding process is performed to the readoutdata in a file formatting way, and then it is performed to reproduce theaudio PCM data (step S92). When the halt key is operated and it isdetected that the end of reproducing is set, the operation ofreproducing terminates (step S93).

[0125] At step S91, when it is identified that the consecutive recordingformat is instructed for its selection, the pick up 52 is moved to theconsecutive format recording area based on TOC information, the data arereadout from the consecutive format recording area, decoding process isperformed to the readout data in a consecutive record format, and thenit is performed to reproduce the audio PCM data (step S94). When thehalt key is operated and it is detected that the end of reproducing isset, the operation of reproducing terminates (step S93).

[0126] At step S81, when it is identified the instruction of selectingis the instruction of selecting the position of the track, based on TOCinformation, it is performed to judge whether or not the instructedposition of the track is within the file format recording area (stepS101 of FIG. 14). If the position of the track is within the file formatrecording area, the audio PCM data are reproduced for the readout databy performing decoding process in a file format (step S102).

[0127] When it is performed to judge whether or not the end ofreproducing is set (step S103) by the halt key being operated and it isdetected that the end of reproducing is set, the operation ofreproducing terminates. Further, at the time of identifying that the endof reproducing is not made at step S103, it is performed to judgewhether or not the current position for reproducing is within the fileformat recording area (step S104). If it is within the file formatrecording area, the step S102 is executed again, and it is continued toreproduce the audio PCM data by performing decoding processcorresponding to the file format for the readout data.

[0128] At step S104, when it is identified that the current position forreproducing is not within the file format recording area, a step S105 isexecuted. At step S101, when it is identified that the position of thetrack which is selected and instructed is not within the file formatrecording area, the step S105 is executed in the same way.

[0129] At this step S105, it is recognized that the position forreproducing is within the consecutive format recording area, and then itis performed to reproduce the audio PCM data in relation to theconsecutive recording format for the data readout from the disc. When itis performed to judge whether or not the end of reproducing is set (stepS106) by the halt key being operated and it is detected that the end ofreproducing is set, the operation of reproducing terminates. At the timeof identifying that the end of reproducing is not made at step S106, thestep S104 is executed, and it is performed to judge whether or not thecurrent position for reproducing is within the file format recordingarea. If it is within the consecutive format recording area, it iscontinued to reproduce the audio PCM data by performing decoding processin relation to the consecutive recording format. If it is within thefile format recording area, the step S102 is executed, and it isperformed to reproduce the audio PCM data by performing decodng processcorresponding to the file format.

[0130] As indicated in the aforementioned description, in accordancewith the data reproducing apparatus of this embodiment, it is possibleto handle two kinds of recording data such as the consecutive recordingformat and the file format. The user can reproduce the data withoutpaying attention to the recording format, while the user can reproducethe audio data having the favorable recording format by selecting therecording format. Thus, the user can use very conveniently.

[0131] [6] Third Embodiment of the Data Recording Method

[0132] According to the aforementioned embodiment, the audio data arerecorded in the optical disc at the same density as in the conventionalCD. According to the third embodiment, there are two possibilities, theone being the case of performing recording at the same recording density(hereinafter, single density is used to refer to this density) as theconventional CD or the other being the case of recording the data athigher recording density; in the following explanation, twofold highdensity (hereinafter, double density is used to refer to this density).In the third embodiment, as a recording medium, there are three kinds ofdiscs such as the single density disc, the double density disc, and amixing type disc having the single and double densities. For respectivethese 3 kinds of discs, the identification data for identifyingrespective these 3 kinds of discs are included in TOC information of aread-in area of the disc for recording.

[0133] According to the data recording method of the third embodiment,the single density recording area of the single density disc or themixing type disc is interchangeable with the conventional CD, and theaudio data are recorded in the aforementioned consecutive recordingformat capable of being reproduced by the CD player. The audio datahaving the aforementioned file format are recorded in the double densityrecording area of the mixing type disc or the double density disc.

[0134] It may be possible to record not only the single or doubledensity identification data but also the identification data on therecording formats in TOC information together.

[0135] The data recording apparatus used in the recording method of thethird embodiment can have the same structure as the data recordingapparatus of the aforementioned embodiment, except that it is possibleto perform recording at double density. This fact can be applied to therecording apparatus not only for the authoring system but also for theconsumer.

[0136] In the case of the data recording apparatus for the consumer, theidentification data, which indicate whether the disc, which has therecord in-the read-in area thereof, has the single density or the doubledensity, are readout. In the case of the single density, the audio dataare recorded in the consecutive recording format. In the case of thedouble density, the audio data are recorded in the file format.

[0137] In the case of the mixing type disc having the single and doubledensities, recording is performed using the consecutive recording formator the file format in accordance with the recording position of whetherit is the single density or the double density. In the case of themixing type disc having the single and double densities, it is possibleto perform recording by selecting the double density recording area orthe single density recording area which has been determined in advancedepending on selection of the recording format by the user.

[0138] As described in the aforementioned description, in the case inwhich the audio data are written using the file format, for theaforementioned recording at a onefold speed, the number of the audiodata comes to be less than the consecutive recording format. However, inthe third embodiment, there is no reduction in the number of data, sincethe audio data are recorded in the disc or the area at high density.

[0139] [6-1] Recording Medium

[0140]FIG. 15 is an example of the mixing type disc having the singleand double densities and indicates a disc 70 in which the audio data arewritten by the embodiment in which the data recording method of thethird embodiment is applied-to the authoring system. For this disc 70,the disc that is interchangeable with the conventional CD and CD-ROM isused for reproducing.

[0141] In the case of FIG. 15, in the same way as the conventional CD,the audio PCM data are also encoded in an error correcting way in a dataarea 73 of a single density recording area 74 on the inner peripheryside, and the data which are modulated and recorded are recordedconsecutively. Therefore, it is possible to reproduce the audio data ofthe single density recording area 74 by the conventional popular CDplayer. A read-in area 71 and a readout area 72 are included in thesingle density recording area 74.

[0142] In the optical disc 70 of the case of FIG. 15, a double densityrecording area 78 on the side of an outer periphery is defined as ahigher density recording area than the recording area 74 on the side aninner periphery. In this case, it is defined that the double densityrecording area 78 can record the data at higher recording density whichis 2 times the density recording area 74. In a data area 77 of thedouble density recording area 78 thereof, in this case, the same data asthe audio PCM data recorded in the single density recording area 74 aremade a sector structure by the CD-ROM encoder. Further, the data areencoded in an error correcting way, modulated for recording, and thenrecorded at double density.

[0143] Therefore, the audio data of the double density recording area 78are capable of being reproduced by a device, such as a personalcomputer, capable of reading the double density data having the CD-ROMformat having the file format. At this point, a read-in area 75 and areadout area 76 are contained in the double density recording area 78.

[0144] TOC information of this disc 70 is recorded in the read-in area71. It may be possible to record a part of TOC information in theread-in area 75.

[0145] Meanwhile, the optical disc 70 of the embodiment is made byforming a pit line in accordance with the recorded data by the samesystem as the authoring system which creates a master disc of CD. On theother hand, the double density recording area 78 has the double density.Thus, this point is different from the conventional authoring system.

[0146] In the case of the optical disc 70 of the third embodiment, sincethe density of the recording area 78 having the file format is double,it is possible to secure a wider recording area 74 in case the samemusic data are recorded in the recording area 74 and the recording area78. Therefore, it comes to be possible to reduce a decrease in thenumber of recordable music in comparison with the conventional CD.

[0147] That is to say, the number of music which the optical disc 30 ofthe aforementioned first embodiment can record is nearly only a half asmany as the conventional CD. On the other hand, the number of musicwhich the optical disc 70 of the third embodiment can record is up totwo thirds as many as the conventional CD. Thus, it becomes possible toreduce a decrease in the number of recordable music. By adding to therecording density of the double density recording area 78, it becomespossible to further reduce a decrease in the number of recordable musicin comparison with the conventional CD.

[0148] In the meantime, in the case of the optical disc 70 of thisembodiment, it is possible to record the audio data, the contents ofwhich are different from the audio data recorded in the single densityrecording area 74, in the double density recording area 78. Also in thecase of the optical disc 30 of the first embodiment, it may be possibleto record the audio data having different contents in the recording area34 and the recording area 38.

[0149] [6-2] Data Reproducing Method

[0150] Next, the embodiment of the data reproducing method correspondingto the data recording method of the third embodiment will be explained.

[0151] The data reproducing method in this case can have the samestructure as the data reproducing method shown in FIG. 11 with theexclusion of a point in which the audio data recorded using the doubledensity are capable of being reproduced.

[0152] The operations of reproducing in the data reproducing method ofthis embodiment will be explained with reference to the flowchart ofFIGS. 16, 17 and 18.

[0153] In the data reproducing apparatus of the third embodiment, at thetime of detecting that the optical disc is loaded (step S111), TOCinformation thereof is-read-in (step S112), and then the type of thedisc is checked based on readout TOC information.

[0154] By checking TOC information at step S112, it is performed toidentify whether or not the optical disc which has been loaded is a discin which the audio data having two kinds of recording density (two kindsof recording formats) are coexistently recorded (step S113). When it isidentified that the optical disc is not a disc in which the audio datahaving two kinds of recording density are recorded coexistently at stepS113, the recording density of the recording data of the disc isidentified from TOC information (step S114).

[0155] As a result of identifying at step S114, if it is determined thatthe recording density is a single density, the audio data having theconsecutive recording format are recorded in the disc. Thus, datareadout from the disc are not processed by the CD-ROM decoder but theaudio PCM data corresponding to the consecutive recording format arereproduced by performing decoding process using the error interpolatingcircuit and the like (step S115). When the halt key is operated and itis detected that the end of reproducing is set, the operation ofreproducing the audio data, which are recorded using the consecutiverecording format, terminates (step S116).

[0156] As a result of identifying at step S114, when it is identifiedthat the recording density is the double density, since the audio datahaving the file format are recorded in the disc, the data readout fromthe disc are passed to the CD-ROM decoder, decodeprocessed and preparedfor reproducing by the CD-ROM decoder and the like, and then the audioPCM data corresponding to the file format are reproduced (step S117).When the halt key is operated and it is detected that the end ofreproducing is set, the operation of reproducing the audio data havingthe file format terminates (step S118).

[0157] At the time of identifying the mixing type disc having the singleand double densities at step S113, the instruction for reproducing isawaited (step S119). If there is the instruction for reproducing, it isperformed to judge whether or not the instruction for selecting theposition of reproducing (the position of reproducing a track) or thetype of recording accompanies the indication of reproduction (stepS120). When it is identified that the instruction of selecting isaccompanied at step S120, it is performed to judge whether or not thisinstruction of selecting equals to that the instruction of selecting therecording density is the instruction of the selecting the track position(step S121).

[0158] When it is identified that the indication of selecting therecording density at step S121 is accompanied, it is performed to judgewhether or not what was selected is the double density (step S131 ofFIG. 17). If the double density is selected, the pickup is moved to thedouble density recording area and data are readout from the doubledensity recording area based on TOC information. Then, for the readoutdata, the audio PCM data corresponding to the file format are reproduced(step S132). When the halt key is operated and it is detected that theend of reproducing is set, the operation of reproducing terminates (stepS133).

[0159] At step S131, when it is identified that the selected instructionis about the single density, the pickup is moved to the single densityrecording area and the data are readout from the single densityrecording area based on TOC information. Then, for the readout data, theaudio PCM data corresponding to the consecutive recording format arereproduced (step S134). When the halt key is operated and it is detectedthat the end of reproducing is set, the operation of reproducingterminates (step S133).

[0160] When it is identified that the instruction of selecting is theinstruction of selecting the track at step S121, it is performed tojudge whether or not the instructed position of the track is within thedouble density recording area (step S141 of FIG. 18). If the position ofthe track within the double density recording area is selected, withrespect to the data readout from the double density recording area, theaudio PCM data corresponding to the file format are reproduced (stepS142).

[0161] When the halt key is operated, it is performed to identifywhether or not the end of reproducing is set (step S143). When it isdetected that the end of reproducing is set, the operation ofreproducing terminates. Further, when it is identified that the end ofreproducing is not set at step S143, it is performed to judge whether ornot the current reproducing position is within the double densityrecording area (step S144). If the current position is within the doubledensity recording area, the step S142 is reprocessed, with respect tothe data readout from the double density recording area, it is continuedto reproduce the audio PCM data corresponding to the file format.

[0162] When it is identified that the current reproducing position isnot within the double density recording area at step S144, a step S145is executed. In addition, when it is identified that the currentreproducing position is not within the double density recording area atstep S141, the step S145 is also executed.

[0163] At this step S145, it is identified that the reproducingapparatus is within the single density recording area, and then, for thedata readout from the single density recording area, the audio PCM datacorresponding to the consecutive recording format are reproduced. Whenthe halt key is operated, it is performed to identify whether or not theend of reproducing is set (step S146). When it is detected that the endof reproducing is set, the operation of reproducing terminates. When itis identified that the end of reproducing is not set at step S146, thestep S144 is executed, and it is performed to identify whether or notthe current reproducing position of is within the double densityrecording area.

[0164] If the current position is within the single density recordingarea, it is continued to reproduce the audio PCM data corresponding tothe consecutive recording format. If the current position is within thedouble density recording area, the step S142 is executed, and then, withrespect to the readout data, it is performed to reproduce the audio PCMdata corresponding to the file format.

[0165] In this way, in accordance with the data reproducing method ofthis embodiment, it is possible to handle two kinds of recording datahaving the consecutive recording format and the file format using thesingle density and the double density. The user can reproduce the audiodata having the favorable recording format, and further it is veryconvenient to use since the user can reproduce the data without payingany attention to the recording density and the recording format.

[0166] In the aforementioned data reproducing method, it is explained todesignate reproduction by the user's selecting and designating therecording density, and further it is also possible to select anddesignate the recording format in the same way as the aforementionedembodiment. In such a case, the designation of the consecutive recordingformat corresponds to the designation of the aforementioned singledensity, and the designation of the file format corresponds to thedesignation of the aforementioned double density.

[0167] At this point, in the aforementioned case, the double densityrecording area is explained as the case of the double density, andfurther it is also possible to use not only 2 times as much in densitybut also N(N>1) times as much in density.

[0168] [7] Third Embodiment of the Recording Medium

[0169] In terms of the recording density, the recording medium of thethird embodiment is the same as the recording medium of the secondembodiment. However, they differ in terms of the audio data which arerecorded in the high density recording area. In this third embodiment,using the advantageous points of the high density recording area, it isperformed to record the audio data in this high density recording areaas are sampled using a high sampling frequency such as 88 kHz which are,for example, 2 times as much as in the case of CD.

[0170] In this case, for the recording density mixing type disc, in thesame way as the aforementioned embodiment, any cases, in which the audiodata having the same contents are recorded and/or different audio dataare recorded, can be employed.

[0171] In accordance with the third embodiment, it is possible to recorda lot of music in the disc since the audio data are of high quality andthe data are recorded in the high recording density area even if thenumber of samples is large.

[0172] [Other Modified Embodiment]

[0173] At this point, in aforementioned respective embodiments, it isexplained that the identification data having the recording format, thesingle density, and the double density are contained and recorded in TOCinformation, and further it may also be possible to perform recording inthe read-in area or the readout area other than TOC information.

[0174] In the aforementioned embodiment, the audio data having theconsecutive recording format are recorded on the side of the innerperiphery and the audio data having the file format are recorded on theside of the outer periphery, and further it is also possible to for eachside of the inner periphery and outer periphery to record the audio datahaving the opposite recording format.

[0175] It goes without saying that this invention can be applied notonly to the disc medium, such as CD, only for reproducing but also to amagneto-optical disc medium. It is possible for this invention to beapplied to a semiconductor memory as a recording medium.

[0176] As explained in the foregoing description, according to thisinvention, it is possible to handle both of the audio data having theconsecutive recording format and the audio data having the file formatby the same recording apparatus and the same reproducing apparatus, andthus, the invention is very conveniently used.

[0177] Further, it is possible to record and reproduce the audio datahaving the consecutive recording format and record and reproduce theaudio data having the file format according to the user's selection, andthus, the invention is very conveniently used.

[0178] Further, since the audio data having the same contents using twokinds of recording formats can be recorded and reproduced mixedly in onerecording medium, the invention becomes possible to record and reproducethe audio data according to the user's purpose of usage and thus,itbecomes to be very conveniently used.

1. A recording method comprising: a first process for recording audiodata consecutively in a first recording area of a recording medium; anda second process for recording audio data, which have a file formathaving the same file contents as audio data recorded in said firstrecording area, in a second recording area of said recording medium. 2.A recording method as set forth in claim 1, wherein said recordingmethod records an identifier for indicating that audio data recorded insaid first recording area of said recording medium and audio datarecorded in a file format in said recording area are recorded.
 3. Arecording method as set forth in claim 1, wherein said recording methodfurther records first information being indicated in a recording formatof audio data recorded in said first recording area and secondinformation being indicated in a recording format of audio data recordedin said second recording area.
 4. A recording method as set forth inclaim 3, wherein said recording method further records said identifierinformation and information for identifying positions of said firstrecording area and said second recording area in said recording medium.5. A recording method as set forth in claim 1, wherein said firstprocess performs an error correcting process to audio data recorded insaid first recording area and then records in said first recording areaby performing a modulating process and said second process generatesdata having sector structure based on audio data being recorded in saidsecond recording area, performs said error correcting process togenerated data, and further records data in said second recording areaby performing said modulating process.
 6. A recording method as setforth in claim 1, wherein said recording method switches between alinear speed in said first process and a linear speed in said secondprocess.
 7. A recording method as set forth in claim 6, wherein saidrecording method controls a process of driving said recording medium inorder for a linear speed at the time of recording said second recordingarea of said recording medium to become faster than a linear speed atthe time of recording said first recording area of said recordingmedium.
 8. A recording method as set forth in claim 7, wherein saidrecording method records in a read-in area of said recording mediuminformation on audio data being recorded in said first area asinformation on a table of contents after said first process terminatesand then said second process is performed by switching the linear speedof said first recording area over to the linear speed of said secondrecording area of said recording medium.
 9. A recording method as setforth in claim 8, wherein said recording method records in said read-inarea of said recording medium information on audio data having a fileformat being recorded in said second area as information on a table ofcontents after said second process terminates.
 10. A recording method asset forth in claim 1, wherein said recording method records data in saidsecond area at higher density than recording density of data beingrecorded in said first recording area.
 11. A recording mediumcomprising: a first recording area for recording consecutive audio data;and a second recording area for recording audio data having a fileformat having the same contents as audio data being recorded in saidfirst recording area.
 12. A recording medium as set forth in claim 1,wherein any one recording area of said first recording area and saidsecond recording area locates on the inner periphery side of anotherrecording area.
 13. A recording medium as set forth in claim 12, whereinsaid recording medium provides a first read-in area on the innerperiphery side of any one recording area of said first recording areaand said second recording area, provides a first readout area successiveto said one recording area, provides a second read-in area on the outerperiphery side of said first readout area, provides another recordingarea on the outer periphery side of said second read-in area, andprovides a second readout area in an outer periphery of said anotherrecording area.
 14. A recording medium as set forth in claim 11, whereindata are recorded in said second recording area at higher density thanrecording density of data being recorded in said first recording area.15. A recording medium as set forth in claim 11, wherein said recordingmedium further includes a read-in area and records information, whichrelates to audio data being recorded at least in said first area, asinformation on a table of contents in said read-in area.
 16. A recordingmedium as set forth in claim 15, wherein an identifier, which indicatesthat data as audio data being recorded in said first recording area andaudio data having a file format in said second recording format arerecorded in said recording area, is recorded in said read-in area
 17. Arecording medium as set forth in claim 15, wherein first information forindicating a recording format of audio data being recorded in said firstrecording area and second information for indicating a recording formatof audio data being recorded in said second recording area are furtherrecorded in said read-in area.
 18. A recording medium as set forth inclaim 17, wherein information for identifying positions of said firstrecording area and said second recording area are further recorded insaid read-in area together with said identification data.
 19. Arecording medium as set forth in claim 11, wherein the said recordingmedium has different linear speeds when said first recording area andsaid second recording area perform recording.
 20. A recording medium asset forth in claim 11, wherein an identifier indicating that two kindsof data such as audio data recorded in said first recording area andaudio data having a file format as recorded in said second recordingarea are recorded is further recorded in said recording medium.
 21. Arecording method comprising the steps of: reading information on a tableof contents from a recording medium; identifying whether or not saidrecording medium is a recording medium in which two kinds of audio dataas audio data to be recorded in first recording area and audio data tobe recorded in second recording area having a file format can berecorded based on readout information on said table of contents;identifying whether or not said recording medium is a medium in whichwhen it is identified that said two kinds of audio data can be recordedin said recording medium; and notifying whether or not said recordingmedium should be defined as a recording medium for recording said twokinds of audio data when said recording medium is a medium in which norecording has yet been performed.
 22. A recording method as set forth inclaim 21, wherein said recording method records an identifier forindicating that two kinds of audio data as audio data recorded in saidfirst recording area and audio data having a file format as recorded insaid second recording area are recorded in said recording medium when itis decided that said recording medium is a recording medium forrecording said two kinds of audio data.
 23. A recording method as setforth in claim 21, wherein said recording method starts a process ofrecording when recording start and recording format are designated afterit is decided that said recording medium records said two kinds of audiodata.
 24. A recording method as set forth in claim 23, wherein saidmethod notifies that it is needed to designate said recording formatwhen a process of said recording start is exclusively designated.
 25. Arecording method as set forth in claim 23, wherein said method selectssaid first recording area and said second recording area of saidrecording medium based on said designated recording format, and audiodata are recorded in said designated format on a selected recordingarea.
 26. A recording method as set forth in claim 22, wherein saidmethod performs a process of recording based on a recording formatdesignated by said readout information on a table of contents when it isidentified that said recording medium is not a recording medium on whichrecording has been performed.
 27. A recording method as set forth inclaim 26, wherein said method gives a warning when a recording formatdifferent from the recording format designated by said readoutinformation on table of contents is designated.
 28. A recording methodas set forth in claim 21, wherein said method starts a process ofrecording when a recording start and a recording format are designatedwhen it is decided that a recording medium is defined not to record saidtwo kinds of audio data.
 29. A recording method as set forth in claim28, wherein said method notifies that said recording format is requiredwhen a process of said recording start is exclusively designated.
 30. Arecording apparatus comprising: a recording head for recording in arecording medium having a first recording area in which audio data arerecorded in a consecutive way and a second recording area in which audiodata having a file format are recorded; a data generating unit forgenerating data having a file format based on input audio data; anencoder for applying error correcting processes to said input audio dataor data being output from said data generating unit; a modulationprocess unit for performing modulating processes to output data fromsaid encoder and for providing recording data to said recording head;and a selecting unit for deciding whether said input audio data aresupplied to said encoder or to said data generating unit based on adesignated recording format.
 31. A recording apparatus as set forth inclaim 30, wherein said apparatus further includes a rotation drivingunit for rotating and driving said recording medium and a control unitfor controlling operations of said rotation driving unit and switchingoperations of said selecting unit; and said control unit controls saidrotation driving unit so that linear speeds can be switched between whenrecording is performed in said first area by said recording head andwhen recording is performed in said second area by said recording head.32. A recording apparatus as set forth in claim 31, wherein said controlunit controls said rotation driving unit so that a linear speed whensaid second recording area performs recording is faster than a linearspeed when said first recording area of said recording medium performsrecording.
 33. A recording apparatus as set forth in claim 30, whereinsaid control unit moves said recording head to a position correspondingto said second area when data output from said encoder are recorded andsaid recording head is moved to said first recording area when saidinput audio data are consecutively recorded in said recording medium.34. A reproducing method comprising the steps of:. reading outinformation on a table of contents from a recording medium; identifyingwhether or not said recording medium is a recording medium in which twokinds of audio data, or audio data recorded in said first recording areaand audio data having a file format as recorded in a second recordingarea, are recorded based on said readout information on table ofcontents; and starting a process of reproducing said recording mediumwhen an instruction of a reproducing start and a selecting instructionof a recording format are supplied when it is identified that saidrecording medium is a recording medium in which said two kinds of audiodata are recorded.
 35. A reproducing method as set forth in claim 34,wherein said method performs a process of reproducing by reading outdata from said second recording area or said first recording area inwhich data corresponding to a recording format being selected by saidselecting instruction are recorded.
 36. A reproducing method as setforth in claim 34, wherein said method identifies a recording format ofdata being recorded in said recording medium based on said readoutinformation on the table of contents when it is identified that saidrecording medium is a recording medium in which said two kinds of audiodata are recorded.
 37. A reproducing method as set forth in claim 36,wherein said method performs processes of a readout reproduced signalfrom said identified recording medium based on said recording format.38. A reproducing method as set forth in claim 34, wherein said methodcontrols a process of driving said recording medium so that a linearspeed of said recording medium when reproduction is performed from saidsecond recording area is faster than a linear speed when reproduction isperformed from said first recording area.
 39. A reproducing method asset forth in claim 34, wherein said method identifies a recording formatof data being recorded in said recording medium based on said readoutinformation on the table of contents when it is identified that saidrecording medium is not a medium in which said two kinds of audio dataare recorded and then switches processes of a reproduced signal readoutfrom said recording medium based on an identified recording format. 40.A reproducing method comprising the steps of: reading out information ona table of contents from a recording medium; identifying whether or notsaid recording medium is a recording medium in which two kinds of audiodata, as audio data to be recorded in a first recording area and audiodata having a file format to be recorded in a second recording area, arerecorded based on said readout information on the table of contents; andstarting a reproduction process when an instruction, which selects areproducing start and a track position, is supplied when it isidentified that said recording medium is a recording medium in whichsaid two kinds of audio data are recorded.
 41. A reproducing method asset forth in claim 40, wherein said method identifies whether a trackbeing selected by an instruction of selecting said track position ispositioned in said first recording area or in said second recordingarea.
 42. A reproducing method as set forth in claim 41, wherein saidmethod switches reproducing signal processes based on results fromidentifying whether said track being selected is positioned in saidfirst recording area or said second recording area.
 43. A reproducingmethod as set forth in claim 34, wherein said method controls a processof driving said recording medium so that a linear speed of saidrecording medium when reproduction is performed from said secondrecording area is faster than a linear speed when reproduction isperformed from said first recording area.
 44. A reproducing method asset forth in claim 40, wherein said method identifies a recording formatof data being recorded in said recording medium based on said readoutinformation on the table of contents when it is identified that saidrecording medium is not a medium in which said two kinds of audio dataare recorded and then switches processes of a reproduced signal readoutfrom said recording medium based on an identified recording format. 45.A reproducing apparatus comprising: a reproducing head for reading outdata from a recording medium; a demodulating unit for performing ademodulating process to data readout from said recording medium by saidrecording head; a decoder for performing a decoding process,corresponding to an error correction process, to data output from saiddemodulating procedure; a converting unit for converting data havingsaid file format to audio data when data output from said decoder aredata having a file. format; and a selecting unit for deciding whether ornot data output from said decoder are supplied to said conversion unitbased on information on a table of contents readout from said recordingmedium.
 46. A recording apparatus as set forth in claim 45, wherein saidapparatus further includes: a rotation driving unit for rotating anddriving said recording medium; a control unit for controlling operationsof said rotation driving unit and switching operations of said selectingunit; wherein said control unit identifies whether or not said recordingmedium is a recording medium in which audio data recorded in a firstrecording area and audio data having a file format as recorded in asecond recording area are recorded based on readout TOC information andthen, if it is identified that said recording medium is a recordingmedium in which said two kinds of audio data have been recorded, saidcontrol unit controls said rotation driving unit so that a line speed atthe time of reproduction from said first recording area by saidreproducing head and a line speed at the time of reproduction from saidsecond recording area by said reproducing head may be switched.
 47. Arecording apparatus as set forth in claim 46, wherein said control unitcontrols said rotation driving unit so that a linear speed when saidsecond recording area performs recording is faster than a linear speedwhen said first recording area of said recording medium performsrecording.
 48. A recording method comprising the steps of: reading outinformation on a table of contents from a recording medium; identifyingwhether or not said recording medium is a recording medium which has afirst recording area of recording data having a first recording densityand a second recording area of recording data having a second recordingdensity higher than said first recording density based on said readoutinformation on the table of contents being; and recording audio dataconsecutively in said first recording area and further audio data havinga file format are recorded in said second recording area, if it isidentified that said recording medium is a recording medium having saidfirst and second recording areas.
 49. A reproducing method comprisingthe steps of: reading out information for a table of contents from arecording medium; identifying whether or not said recording medium is arecording medium which has a first recording area of recording datahaving a first recording density and has a second recording area ofrecording data having a second recording density higher than said firstrecording density based on said information of said table of contentsbeing readout; and starting reproduction from said recording area whenan instruction of a reproducing start and of selecting a recordingformat is supplied, if it is identified that said recording medium is arecording medium having said first and second recording areas.
 50. Areproducing method as set forth in claim 49, wherein said methodreadouts data from any one of said first recording area and said secondarea corresponding to said recording density if an instruction ofselecting said recording format is an instruction of selecting recordingdensity.
 51. A reproducing method as set forth in claim 49, wherein saidmethod identifies which of said first recording area and said secondrecording area a recording area selected by an instruction of selectingsaid track position is located in if an instruction of selecting saidrecording format is an instruction of selecting a track position.
 52. Areproducing method as set forth in claim 51, wherein said methodswitches processes of a reproduced signal based on a result fromidentifying a recording position of said track which has been selectedfrom said first recording area and a second recording area.
 53. Areproducing method as set forth in claim 49, wherein said method, if itis identified that said recording medium is not a recording mediumhaving said first and second recording areas, identifies the recordingdensity of said recording medium based on said information on the tableof contents and switches processes of a reproduced signal readout fromsaid recording medium based on the identified recording density.